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With seafood, if it isnt ecoli or salmonella ............its mercury. Then we learn that fish grown in farms have more mercury than fish from the sea. I never ate a lot of fish and now just love tempura battered chilean sea bass. But that became endangered so no more chilean seabass.

I have some Gorton's fish sticks in the freezer. I often crave tartar sauce, and it's the only thing to legitimize eating the sauce. I realize this is horribly white trash and low brow for me... and thusly out of character for someone so consumed with all things Margiela but I digress. I may have to cook some.

well, you can always make the milk into yogurt or keifer, thats how i drink it since i am extremely lactose intolerant too.

besides, they are great for your digestion.

I only eat yogurt with "live and active cultures" because that's the only way the lactose is broken down enough to the point where it doesn't bother me.

As far as I know, raw milk itself is definitely illegal for sale here in stores and from dairies, and I've never seen raw milk yogurts sold anywhere... nor would I buy them if I saw them. Raw milk cheese, yes... but I've never bought them nor had them.

Dan J.

While I wouldn't have eaten sushi & oysters with 14 t cells I would & do eat them now. My doc told me to never eat raw fish again. If you can't eat somethng you enjoy what's the point in living? If you were going to have problems you would have already had them. I hope you enjoyed your b-day & when your t cell count is over 400 go & enjoy some sushi again to celebrate your improved numbers.

I used to eat a lot of sushi, shashimi and less so raw oysters. I still do, but rarely. Mainly because of where my tcell counts are at the moment. Once they rise, I'll probably start eating them more but maybe never as much as I used to when I was negative and recently diagnosed (like a couple times a week).

Plus, I know a place where you can stuff yourself with raw fish for less than ten bucks - AND it's sanitary

Just saying.

We all choose our level of acceptable risk.... and our level of acceptable compromise to this virus.

Logged

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

Sometimes I wonder if it is worth replying to certain threads when they ask for advice and help. After 90% of us told him that he should be careful with raw food/fish and one person post that he knows of a $10 joint he can eat raw fish he is asking for the name of the restaurant. lol. I guess we are all different. I am glad he is doing well though.

quote: "Sometimes I wonder ......" IHave........................................believe me at my age its really frustrating to watch the same old same old same old stuff . People make the same mistakes over and over and over.

What about "Ceviche".....this is raw fish...sometimes other seafood...but its marinated in a spicy vinegar and lime juice so the seafood is actually "cooked"....its served cold as a salad...and is really good. Does it count as raw or cooked?

I adore ceviche, but the same care should be taken as with sushi and only high grade materials used. Vinegar, contrary to what some may think, does not eliminate possible bacterial problems.

Look, I'm the first to say that HIV people can over worry about the MODERATE intake of such foods, but what's common sense for someone with 500 cd4's is totally 100% different for someone with 14. That's the crux in this thread.

Seriously, it boggles my mind frankly. Does it take going down to 3 to be more careful? Why doesn't he just lick a highly trafficked piece of office carpeting?

Ok i googled: wow I did not realize that ceviche was just as dangerous as raw seafood...lox is considered raw..........................................................While not a threat to most healthy people, V. vulnificus can cause sudden chills, fever, nausea, vomiting, blood poisoning and death within two days in people with certain medical conditions. Forty percent of V. vulnificus infections from raw oyster consumption are fatal. The bacteria are not a result of pollution; so, although oysters should always be obtained from reputable sources, eating oysters from "clean" waters or in reputable restaurants with high turnover does not provide protection. Eating raw oysters with hot sauce or while drinking alcohol does not kill the bacteria, either.

High-Risk Factors: All individuals who eat foods contaminated with this organism are susceptible to gastroenteritis, which usually develops within 16 hours of eating the contaminated food. However, certain health conditions put you at risk for serious illness or death from V. vulnificus infection. Some of these conditions have no signs or symptoms so you may not know you are at risk. If you are an older adult, you also may be at increased risk because older people more often have these risk conditions than younger people. Check with your doctor if you are unsure of your risk. These high-risk conditions include:

Liver disease, either from excessive alcohol intake, viral hepatitis or other causes Hemochromatosis, an iron disorder Diabetes Stomach problems, including previous stomach surgery and low stomach acid (for example, from antacid use) Cancer Immune disorders, including HIV infection Long-term steroid use (as for asthma and arthritis). IF YOU ARE OR THINK YOU MAY BE IN ANY OF THESE RISK CATEGORIES, YOU SHOULD NOT EAT RAW OYSTERS.

I never heard the mayo one. I realize that it has raw eggs in it but I would think store bought has some sort of preservative in it or I would have heard this. I've made mayonnaise from scratch (did I mention how much I love mayo?

Commercially produced mayonnaise is an unlikely cause of food poisoning. This is because it is made with pasteurized eggs, which are heat treated to kill harmful bacteria, such as salmonella. It also has a high level of acidity ó from ingredients such as vinegar or lemon juice ó which inhibits bacteria growth. Homemade mayonnaise, on the other hand, is made with raw egg yolks, which may contain harmful bacteria, and should be avoided.

They told me the two foods I should avoid the most is Sushi and Mayonaise. It is even written in my clinic's HIV rule pamphlet and CD4 count chart they gave me with things I need to remember. I LOVE mayo especially on burgers/sanwiches and grilled corn in a bbque. When she told me to stay away from mayo it was as if someone took a little piece of skin of me because me and mayo go way back. Anyways that is what they told me.

Sorry, IHaveHope, many of us struggle with HIV, but each of us has to live our lives as best as we can. Sometimes that means making choices that might not seem healthy.

Are you as vocal about people who smoke or drink?

It's certainly not a "nothing can happen to me" attitude on my part. Things can happen, and they have happened, and I respect and revere the quality of my life more now than ever.

Getting HIV is not the last unwise thing you will ever do. Most unwise things have zero ramifications. Some of them hold the threat of real danger and death. But we each have to choose, whether it's unprotected sex with another positive person or sushi or cigarrettes or scotch, what we require to be happy.

Logged

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

I've gotta say my cd4s are now at 200. They were at 140 when I was diagnosed and I LOVED to eat sushi every week. Granted the stomach issue the drove me to the doctor and subsequently find out my status was made worse by the night I ordered sushi for delivery. I still eat sushi, but I now make sure to go and eat in.

I had not heard about the mayo thing... I LOVE mayo. ... good lord don't take EVERYTHING away.

Logged

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They told me the two foods I should avoid the most is Sushi and Mayonaise. It is even written in my clinic's HIV rule pamphlet and CD4 count chart they gave me with things I need to remember. I LOVE mayo especially on burgers/sanwiches and grilled corn in a bbque. When she told me to stay away from mayo it was as if someone took a little piece of skin of me because me and mayo go way back. Anyways that is what they told me.

Show her the Mayo Clinic link. And no, they have nothing to do with mayonnaise.

Sorry, IHaveHope, many of us struggle with HIV, but each of us has to live our lives as best as we can. Sometimes that means making choices that might not seem healthy.

Are you as vocal about people who smoke or drink?

It's certainly not a "nothing can happen to me" attitude on my part. Things can happen, and they have happened, and I respect and revere the quality of my life more now than ever.

Getting HIV is not the last unwise thing you will ever do. Most unwise things have zero ramifications. Some of them hold the threat of real danger and death. But we each have to choose, whether it's unprotected sex with another positive person or sushi or cigarrettes or scotch, what we require to be happy.

Hey buddie

Yea I have been vocal about alcohol, drugs, unsafe sex, anorexia (someone said he wanted to look like Kate Moss) and smoking. Hey, having HIV and going to the doctor every one to three months is enough for me. Everything in life is a risk and making decision based on pleasures is fine with me because after all you only live once. But when you have a CD4 count in the teens and someone is asking for your advice I can only state what I have been told by professionals. But everyone is different and he is doing well and I am very happy he is doing well even after having a sushi feast. I just want what is best for my fellow friends. There are someone people who only need to be told once to wake up and realize that they can be in danger and then there are those who need to hear it over and over. If I can contribute to giving a valuable opinion to someone who asked for help then I will do so. But it seems that each time I remind someone that drugs can affect your health and so can alcohol I get attacked by a few members and they tell me they've done drugs and alcohol plenty of times and nothing bad has happened to them (at least they claim) but then there are those who have died of drug complications and multiple drug resistance due to lack of adherence that I know personally who are now dead. I would want to one day be able to have multiple glasses of wine or a nice cocktail and I will but once I see my numbers improve and know that I am at a safe zone until then I will try my best to avoid any risk. Sorry to say it but it is an "It can't happen to me" attitude because if you are being told to take caution in the things you put inside you and you disregard it then you are ignoring our advice so why ask for it.

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

I will scan the phamplet if you want me to on Tues when I get back to work. I am not lying or trying to scare anyone. Trust me I love mayo.

Oh, no girl. I don't think you're a liar. Why would I think that? A doctor can be wrong about something, that's all. I eat so much mayo there's just no way there's a problem with commercially packed mayo.